I -just- got 100 18mm piezos from China for $10.40. Haven't tested any but expect they will work, now I have a whole lot of 'buttons' that can take a real smacking.

China subsidizes their tech. But it's looking like they might have to start treating their people better, perhaps almost decently, and then prices will go up. China also allows some really insane pollution that's going to haunt them badly in future. But that's in future while the name of the game now is exploit, move, repeat.

That is what the Occupy movement is about. The margins that 99% live on are shrinking. Perhaps we can get back to nobility and peasants in another generation or three. Privileges are effectively worth more than rights here already though the privileged ones don't act like they notice. IOW, your rights ain't worth much if you're poor and a cop decides you look wrong.

Perhaps we can get back to nobility and peasants in another generation or three.

There is another option. Every now and then there's a "correction" when the imbalance gets too great.

I remember a movie about the Russian revolution, the nobility were trying to hide with the peasants but the officials were checking people's hands, there's no way you can fake a lifetime of work with your hands.